DFMDecember2014
29
THEIR SPIRIT, OUR
PRIDE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
Aship’s boat
used at the
Gallipoli landings,
the medals and dog
tag of Private John
Simpson Kirkpatrick,
and a cross cut from the
wing of the Red Baron’s
Fokker triplane are just
some of the iconic items
that will be on display
when Australia in the
Great War opens.
Nick Fletcher is the curator of
the First World War Galleries
and has been working on
the redevelopment since
early 2011.
Nick said the Memorial’s
famous dioramas portraying
key moments in the
Australian Imperial Force’s
service would also return,
along with important
paintings and photographs.
“The Semakh diorama,
which had been stored for
many years and was in a
poor condition with missing
parts, has been totally
restored,” he said.
“To see it slowly
reassembled and returned to
life has made me very happy
and immensely proud of my
colleagues in conservation.
“I hope this diorama,
which made a strong
impression on me as a
child, will be a popular
exhibit.”
Items not seen by
the public before include
a 4.5 -inch howitzer and
newly acquired parts from
a tank destroyed during
the Australian attack
at Bullecourt in April
1917.
Nick said he hoped
visitors to the galleries
would take away a better
understanding of what the
First World War meant for
Australia and what the
conflict was about.
“I particularly hope
families will be able to put
themselves in the position of
the Australians of 100 years
ago and to imagine the loss
of more than 60 000 of their
own,” he said.
“There is certainly no
intention that the new
galleries should be
triumphal, but I hope that
Australians will feel proud of
what their countrymen and
women achieved in the years
1914 to 1918.” n
www.awm.gov.au/1914-1918
An artist’s impression of the entry to the Memorial’s First World War gallery in The Great War. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.
The AUSTRALIAN WAR
MEMORIAL will open its NEW
FIRST WORLD WAR GALLERIES
in December after an EXTENSIVE
REDEVELOPMENT.
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YOUR
MEDICARE
GAP TERRY EVANS
The National ADF FAMILY
HEALTH PROGRAM began in
January after a SUCCESSFUL
TRIAL that started in 2009, but only
half of ELIGIBLE DEFENCE
FAMILY members have registered.
Theprogramreimbursesthedifferencebetween
general practitioner
charges and the amount
received back as the
Medicare rebate, known
as the Medicare ‘gap’.
There are no limits on this
component.
In addition, each
registered family member
(dependant) is allocated
$400 per financial year, which
can be used to cover gap
expenses from a range of
allied health services and
specialist consultations.
This is a family allocation,
meaning that a family
with three dependants will
be allocated $1200 per
financial year.
Families receive an ADF
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accepted for consultations at
most allied health providers.
You can use the ADF
Family Health Program in
addition to private health
insurance, and this makes
your benefits go even further.
Registration is free and
only takes a few minutes. n
www.defence.gov.au/health
02 6266 3547
ADF.DependantHealth@
defence.gov.au
www.facebook.com/
ADFfamilyhealth
Couples can enter the
trial at any phase of their
relationship. They don’t have
to be newly-weds, intend to
marry, have children, or be
living together.
To find out more about
how relationship education
or counselling can help, and
the eligibility criteria, visit
the families and children
page at the Department of
Social Services website.
The Stronger
Relationships trial is
running for 12 months, until
30 June 2015. n
www.dss.gov.au
28
RELATIONSHIPS
SUBSIDY
COMMITTED COUPLES
across Australia can access
a $200 SUBSIDY to put towards
relationship education or
counselling as part of the Australian
Government’s STRONGER
RELATIONSHIPS TRIAL.
The Kerr family is one of
many who have signed up
for the National ADF
Family Health Program.
Pictured are Sue,
Jason, Lachlan, 9 and
Ethan, 14. Photo by
David McClenaghan.
INTHESPOTLIGHT
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